Clothes and valise carrying device



Feb. 13, 1962 H. E. HIPPS CLOTHES AND VALISE CARRYING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1957 IN VENTOR HERBERT E. H/PPS ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1962 H. E. HIPPS CLOTHES AND VALISE CARRYING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1957 INVENTOR HERBERT E H/PPS QZ X ATTORNEY I Feb. 13, 1962 H. E. HIPPS 3,020,989

CLOTHES AND VALISE CARRYING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1957 e Sheets-Sheet 5 1434 32 a0 a0 59 I839 37 1N VENTOR HERBERT E. H/PPS ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1962 Filed July 26. 195'? H. E. HIPPS 3,020,989

CLOTHES AND VALISE CARRYING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 7a A L x 63 0 0 FIG. /6

I09 70 63 /07 I06 66 I Fla /8 III:

INVENT OR HERBERT E. H/PPS ATTORNEY The present invention relates to a clothes and valise carrying device and has for an object to provide a device of this kind in which a suit containing bag can be carried without wrinkling the suit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character in which the suit holding bag and a valise may be carried as an integral unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clothes and valise carrying device which is capable of carrying any conventional suit holding bag and valise.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a device of this kind which can be easily and quickly packed and unpacked.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a clothes and valise carrying device which is economical to construct, easy to keep in repair and is of sturdy but light construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with one form of the invention and in open position,

FIGURE 2 is a similar view but in closed position,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but show ing a suit containing bag mounted thereon,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the suit containing bag and a valise mounted thereon,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional viewon the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1,

, FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view showing details of the adjustable rotary hook,

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of FIGURE .9,

FIGURE M is a View similar to FIGURE 9, but showing a modified form of the adjustable rotary hook,

States Patent FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12- 12 of FIGURE 11, I

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device,

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13,

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view onthe line 15-15 of FIGURE 14,

FIGURE 16 is an interior plan view of the carrying case or suitcase in open position,

FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of the suit holder, showing a suit positioned thereon;

FIGURE 18 is a plan view of a clip with adjustable buckle, 7

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the carrying case, showing a modified form of means for suspending the suit holder therein, and I FIGURE 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 20- 2 0 of FIGURE 17.

ice

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGURES 1 through 12, the clothes and valise carrying device comprises a suit holding bag support generally indicated at A, and a valise support generally indicated at B. The supports A and B are made of light metal, for example, aluminum, Dowmetal, titanium or stainless steel tubing, either round or oval in cross section and are of skeleton framework construction.

The support A comprises a pair of substantially triangularly shaped frames, generally indicated at 11) and 11. The frame 10 comprises a bottom or lower longitudinal piece or rod 12, end pieces or rods 13, which extend upwardly from the opposite ends of the piece 12 in substantially parallel relation to one another and then converge inwardly and upwardly to have their upper free end portions connected by an upper short longitudinal piece or bar 14. An intermediate longitudinal piece or rod 15 has its opposite ends secured as by welding or the like to the end pieces 13 at substantially the juncture of the parallel and converging portions of each piece 13.

The frame 11 is similar to the frame 10 and comprises a bottom or lower piece or rod 16, and pieces or rods 17, an upper longitudinal piece or bar 18 and an intermediate piece or bar 19. The frames 10 and 11 are joined together and braced by lower cross braces 20 and end braces 21 and 22. The cross braces 20 have their opposite end portions resting on the top of the bottom pieces 12 and 16 to which they are secured by welding or in any other suitable manner. The under surfaces of the bottom pieces 12 and 16 should be smooth and clean like sled runners so that they will not hang on a conveyor belt or on a multiple-roller shelf along which baggageis moved so that the pieces 12 and 16 will freely clear the end of the conveyor belt. It is not necessary for the pieces .12 and 16 toibe flat on the bottom but they may be rounded.

A strap 23 is secured to the intermediate portion of the intermediate bar 15 by folding over one end portion of the strap and securing it to the main body portion of the strap by rivets or the like. In order to prevent movement of the strap 23 axially of the bar 15, a washer orcollar 24 is fixed to the bar 15 adjacent to each side of the folded over portion of the strap. The opposite end portion of the strap 23 is provided with a longitudinally extending row of openings 25. A strap 26 is secured to the intermediate portion of the bar 19 in the same manner as the strap 23 is secured to the bar 15 and is prevented from axial movement thereon by a pair of Washers or collars 27 which are fixed to the bar 19 adjacent'each side edge of the folded over portion of the strap 26. The free end portion of the strap 26 is provided with aconventional type buckle 28 having a tongue 29 which is adapted to be received selectively by the openings 25 of the'strap 23.

The upper bar 18 has a pair of short straps 30 attached thereto in the same manner in which strap 23 is attached to bar 15. These straps 30 are mounted at opposite ends of the bar 18 and each strap is provided witha series of openings or holes 31. A pair of buckles 32 are mounted in a similar manner on the bar 14 adjacent the opposite ends thereof for receiving the apertured ends of the straps 30 so that the tongues of the buckles 32 may be selectively positioned in the apertures 31 of the straps 30.

A hook 33 which is similar to a conventional spring harness hook is secured to a sleeve 34 rotatively mounted on'the bar 14 and which is held against axial movement on the bar 14 by a pair of washers or collars 35 which" are fixed to the bar at opposite ends of the sleeve 34. A

jhook 36 of the conventional spring harness type is secured I to a sleeve 37 rotatively mounte'dfon the interna ediate" portion of the bar 18, as is shown more clearly in FIG- URES 9 and 10 of the drawings. One end portion of the sleeve 37 is provided with a series of angularly spaced apart sockets 38 which selectively receive a pin 39 which projects from a collar 40 fixed to the bar 18 by welding or the like adjacent to the socketed end of the sleeve 37. A coil spring 41 has one end engaging an abutment or collar 42 fixed as by welding or the like to the bar 18 and the opposite end of the spring 41 engages the unsocketed end of the sleeve 37 for urging the socketed end of the sleeve towards the pin 39. With this arrangement the angular position of the hook 36 with respect to the bar 18 may be controlled.

In FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawings an alternate arrangement is illustrated for controlling the angular position of the hook 36. In this arrangement the hook is secured to a sleeve 43 rotatively mounted on the intermediate portion of the bar 18. The intermediate portion of the bar 18, in this form of the invention, is of enlarged diameter and is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced apart flutes or fins 44 which form therebetween a plurality of grooves 45 which are adapted selectively to receive a wing nut 46 carried by a screw threaded opening 47 formed in the Sleeve 43.

In order to impart the necessary rigidity to the frames 10 and 11, the bars and 19 should be positioned approximately three inches above the level of the end braces 21 and 22, which are located about four and one-half inches above the level of the bottom rods 12 and 16 and the upper bars 14 and 18 are substantially twenty-two inches above the level of the bottom rods 12 and 16.

The valise support B comprises a substantially rectangular skeleton frame made up of longitudinal side pieces or rods 48 and end pieces or rods 49 and 50. Each side piece 48 carries a substantially U-shaped abutment 51 which extends upwardly from its side piece 48 when the valise support is in its closed or operative position, shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings. The end pieces 49 and 50 carry substantially U-shaped end abutments 52 which also extend upwardly when the valise support B is in its closed or operative position. Cross pieces or rods 53 have their opposite ends secured to the rods 48 and constitute cross braces for imparting strength and rigidity to the support B. The support B is pivotally mounted for swinging movement into and out of the frames 10 and 11 and for this purpose the end brace 22 and the end piece 50 have secured thereto cooperating portions of a conventional hinge 54, two of which are shown.

In order that the support B may be freely received between the frames 10 and 11, the width of the support B is slightly less than the distance between the frames 10 and 11. In order to arrest the downward swinging movement of the valise support B with respect to the support A, a horizontal abutment in the form of a shelf 55 is carried by the end brace 21 upon which the end piece 49 and the adjacent portions of the side pieces 48 will come to rest and the support B will be supported thereby in substantially a horizontal plane. The end abutment 52 on the end piece 49 may be used also as a handle for swinging the support B from its inoperative position shown in FIGURE 1 to its operative position shown in FIGURE 2.

In the use of the device, assuming that the parts are in their position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the handle 56 of a conventional suit holding bag 57 will be engaged with the hook 33 with the adjacent portion of the bag 57 disposed between the bar 15 and the adjatcent abutment 51 and within the end pieces 13, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 8 of the drawings. The intermediate portion of the bag 57 will be disposed between the bars 15 and 19 above the lower cross braces and the other handle 58 of the bag will then be engaged with the hook 36 with the adjacent portion of the bag disposed between the bar 19 and the adjacent abutment 51 and within the end pieces 17.

If the intermediate portion of the bag 57 drags upon or rests on the lower cross braces 20, the sleeve 37 will be moved axially on the rod 18 against the resistance of the spring 41 until the pin 39 is clear of the sockets 38, at which time the sleeve 37 and hook 36 will be rotated to take up the slack in the intermediate portion of the bag 57 so that the bag 57 will be clear of the lower cross braces 20. The sleeve 37 will then be released and the built-up resistance of the spring 41 will move the sleeve axially on the rod 18 to bring one of the sockets 38 into position in which it will receive the pin 39 to lock the sleeve 37 against rotation.

The valise support B will now be swung downwardly lbetween the frames 10 and 11 until the end piece 49 comes to rest upon the abutment 55. A conventional type valise 59 will then be placed upon the valise support B, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 8 of the drawings. The abutments 51 and 52 will prevent undue lengthwise and widthwise shifting of the valise on the support B.

The strap 23 will be inserted through the handle 56 of the bag 57 under the bar 14 over the top of the valise 59 and through the handle 60 of the valise. The strap 23 will then be passed through the other handle 58 of the bag 57 and be secured in the buckle 28 of the strap 26. The short straps 30 will be secured in the buckles 32 across the top of the valise 59 and tightened sufliciently to pull the end pieces 13' and 17 against the bag 57 and the latter against the sides of the valise. If the valise is of small width, the short straps 30 should only be tightened suiticiently to bend the end pieces 13 and 17 and the bars 14 and 18 slightly towards each other.

The intermediate portion of the bag 57 should hang suspended by its two handles 56 and 58 and it should not drag on the lower cross braces 20 nor be tight around the bottom margins of the valise support B in. order to prevent wrinkling of the suit.

The parts will now be in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and the traveller can carry the entire device by grasping the handle 60 of the valise 59. It will be noted that wrinkling of the suit by setting the suitcase on its end during transportation in a plane or baggage car will be prevented because the device, the straight portions of the end pieces 13 and 17 being relatively short and not affording much purchase for supporting the device on the floor or the like.

The parts may be disassembled by reversing the operation described above and the device may then be moved into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings for storage purposes.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 13 through 20 of the drawings wherein is illustrated a modified form of the invention, C generally indicates a suit holding bag support having therein a valise support generally indicated at D. The suit holding bag support C comprises a suitcase 61 which may be of the conventional type, except for a few changes made to the interior thereof in accordance with the present invention. The suitcase 61 may be made out of aluminum, or a rigid plastic, or any other relatively rigid substance so that it will be sufiiciently rigid to resist undue compression. The suitcase is rectangular in shape and is provided with a conventional handle 62 and conventional latches 63 and may also be provided with a conventional lock and key which are not illustrated.

The material selected for the fabrication of the suitcase should. be of the lightest possible material but yet durable. The two portions of the suitcase 61 are pivotally connected together by conventional type hinges 64 so that the two portions of the suitcase can be swung towards and away from each other to the fully closed position illustrated in FIGURE 13 and the fully opened position shown in FIGURE 16 of the drawings.

The two portions or compartments of the. suitcase 61 are indicated at 65 and 66. A hook 67 which is of the conventional spring harness type is secured to the inner face of the top 68 of the compartment 65 in any suitable manner and a similar hook 69 is secured to the inner face of the top 70 of the compartment 66. Each end wall 71 of the compartment 65 has secured to its inner face a bracket '72 which is of angle iron formation in cross section. The brackets '72 are secured to the inner faces of the end walls 71 by screws or the like 73 which extend through one flange of each bracket and engage in the end walls 71 and the other flange of each bracket serves as an abutment or ledge against which the adjacent side of a valise 74 engages.

Each end wall of the compartment 65 also has secured thereto a bracket 75 which is also of angle iron formation in cross section and which is spaced inwardly of the inner end of the bracket 72 and extends at substantially right angles to the bracket 72. The brackets '75 are secured to the inner face of the end walls 71 by screws or the like 76 which extend through one flange of each bracket into the end walls 71 and the other flange of each bracket 75 serves as an abutment or ledge against which the bottom of the valise '74 engages.

Each end wall 77 of the compartment 66 has secured to its inner face a bracket 73. Each bracket 78 is secured to the end walls 77 by screws or the like '79 which extend through one flange of the bracket 78 into the inner face of the end wall 77 and the other flange of each bracket 78 serves as an abutment or ledge against which the other side of the valise engages as can be seen from FIGURE 14 of the drawings;

The brackets 72, 75 and 78 comprise the valise support D.

A suit holder or suit holding bag is generally indicated at E and is illustrated in FIGURES l4 and 17 through 20 of the drawings. The suit holder E comprises an elongated base of substantially rectangular shape. This base is formed of two layers 80 of plastic or cloth which may be thick like ducking, which layers are secured together in any appropriate manner as can be seen more clearly from FIGURE 14 of the drawings. stifi but light material, is secured between the top edge portion of the layers 80 in any suitable manner. This strip 81 may be made of light weight metal or wood or may be in the form of a metal rod provided it is light in weight and not over approximately one-fourth inch in diameter. A similar strip 82 is secured between the bottom edge portions of the layers 80 in a similar manner. Handles 33 and 84 are secured to the strips 81 and 82, respectively, by rivets or the like 85. These handles 83 and 84- should be made of non-rigid material so that they will hang better from the hooks 67 and 69 to which they are adapted to be attached, and the handles should be short, that is, not over approximately three-fourth inch from the adjacent edge of the suit holder to the apex of the handle. A hook 86 is secured to each side of the top strip 81 and is of the conventional harness snap or spring snap type of hook so that the handle cannot become disengaged therefrom even if the suitcase is turned upside down.

Each of the hooks 66 is adapted to receive the hook S7 of a clothes hanger 88. Any conventional type of clothes hanger may be used except that the neck connecting the book 87 to the clothes hanger proper 88 must be very short.

A pair of spring clips 89 are secured to the top strip 91 by means of elastic straps 90 which are secured to the top strip 81 by rivets or the like 91. Each clip 89 may be made of metal or plastic and is of similar construction to a conventional spring clip type clothes pin, except that the clips 89 are larger and stronger. It is preferred that in lieu of using the elastic straps 90 alone that each strap be provided with an adjustable sliding buckle 92 of the conventional type used on suspenders, as is illustrated in FIGURE 18 of the drawings.

At longitudinally spaced apart points the suit holder E is provided with cross pieces or braces 93 which-may A strip 81, which is be made of thin plastic or thin-like metal and impart lateral rigidity to the layers 80. The cross pieces 93 are housed in pockets 94 which may be formed in any suitable manner, for example, by heat sealing the layers together adjacent each edge of the cross pieces 93 if the layers 80 are made of plastic, or by stitching if the layers 30 are made of cloth. Spring clips 95 are attached by elastic straps 96 to the opposite ends of the second uppermost cross piece 93 by means of rivets or the like 97.

Spring clips 98 are secured by elastic straps 99 to the bottom strip 82 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Spring clips 100 are secured by elastic straps 101 to the bottom strip 82 inwardly of the clips 98. Spring clips 102 are secured by elastic straps 103 to the bottom strip 82 inwardly of the clips 100 and spring clips 104 are secured by elastic straps 105 to the bottom strip 82 at each side of the bottom handle 84. It is preferred that each of the elastic straps 96, 99, 101, 103 and 105 be equipped with adjustable sliding buckles 92.

It is to be understood that each side of the suit holder E is provided with a complete set of spring clips, as shown in FIGURE 14 of the drawings.

A modified form of hook arrangement for supporting the suit holder E is illustrated in FIGURE 19 of the drawings. In this modification an elongated double hook handle 84 of the suit holder E.

In the use of the device illustrated in FIGURES 13 through 20, assuming that it is desired to pack the suitcase for travel, the suit holder B will be suspended from a door or wall hook by its top handle 83 and the clothes hanger 88 with a coat thereon will be placed on one of the hooks 86. The spring clips 95 will be attached to each side margin of the coat under very slight tension below the arm pit of the coat. The clips 98 will then be attached to the lower and outer margins of the coat in such a manner that they slightly stretch the coat sideways as well as lengthwise. It will be noted that these clips 98 are positioned obliquely or diagonally.

The clips 104 will then be attached to the overlapping center front margin of the coat and the clips 100 are attached to the lower margin of the sleeves so as to hold the sleeves smooth. The cuffs of the pants 111 will have the clips 89 attached thereto so that the pants will hang down over the center portion of the coat. The clips 102 will then be attached to the margins of the pants near the waist or belt line and when the suit holder E 61, the waist part of the trousers fold over, as shown'in FIGURE 17 of the drawings. The valise 74 will then be filled with other clothes, toilet kit or any other desirable articles. The suit holder E will then be positioned within the suitcase 61 while the suitcase is in its open position illustrated in FIGURE 16 by attaching the upper handle 83 to the hook 67 and the bottom handle 84 to the hook 69.

I The valise 74 will then be positioned upon the ledges of the bracket 72 with one side resting upon and supported by the brackets 72 with the handle 112 of the valise adjacent to the top 68 of the suitcase. When the suitcase is closed and is supported by its bottom as illustrated in FIGURES 13 and 14, the bottom of the valise will rest upon the ledge of the bracket 75 and the ledges of the brackets 72 and 78 will engage the opposite sides of the valise so that the valise is supported within the suitcase without any danger of it shifting.

With this arrangement the valise 74 is at all times, regardless of the position of the suitcase 61, held in spaced relation to the suit holder E and the suits positioned upon the suit holder to prevent wrinkling of the suits.

The

valise 74 may be of any conventional type so long as its dimensions are such that it will fit within and be supported and restrained against migrating by the brackets 72, 75 and 78. It will be noted particularly from FIG- URE 14 of the drawings that the suits supported by the suit holder E hang in a substantially U-shaped fashion and neither the valise 74 or any other part of the device engages the suits so that they will remain fresh and unwrinkled.

If desired, the valise 74 may be made of strong plastic material or strong light metal and since it is not contemplated that the valise will ever be used outside of the suitcase it does not have to withstand great wear. The sides of this valise could be made of cloth or plastic film or something slightly elastic since it would not affect the proper operation of this device if the side walls of the valise bulged a little since they would exert no pressure on the suit. Of course the bottom and edges of the valise must be rigid to rest on the ledges of the brackets and the top will have to be sufficiently rigid to have the conventional latch 113 fixed on it.

The form of hook 106 illustrated in FIGURE 19 will operate in the same manner as the hooks 67 and 69 in so far as the supporting of the suit holder E is concerned.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A suit holder comprising at least one layer of material, a top strip extending transversely of said layer and secured thereto, a bottom strip extending transversely of said layer and secured thereto, at least one cross brace secured to said layer, a plurality of adjustable spring clips on said strips, and spring clips on said cross brace, supports on said top strip for supporting coat hangers, said clips adapted to be attached to the coats on the coat hangers and the pants of the suits for supporting the pants and for placing the suits under a slight stretching tension for preventing migration of the suits on the suit holder and preventing wrinkling of the suits.

2. A clothes and valise carrier comprising a suit case, a suit holder having a handle at each end, a pair of hooks within the suit case for engagement with said handles for suspending the suit holder within the suit case in spaced relation to the suit case, and valise supporting means within the suit case for supporting the valise in a zone in spaced relation to the suit holder and the clothes on the suit holder, said suit holder comprising at least one layer of material, a top strip extending transversely of said layer and secured thereto, a bottom strip extending transversely of said layer and secured thereto, at least one cross brace secured to said ca layer, a plurality of adjustable spring clips on said strips, and spring clips on said cross brace, supports on said top strip for supporting coat hangers, said clips adapted to be attached to the coats on the coat hangers and the pants of the suits for supporting the pants and for placing the suits under a slight stretching tension for preventing migration of the suits on the suit holder and preventing wrinkling of the suits.

3. A suit case and valise structure comprising two main sections separable on a plane perpendicular to the base of the structure, one of said sections having bracket means at each end thereof disposed widthwise and above said base and providing relatively narrow ledges to support a valise and also having bracket means to one side of and above said first bracket means for abutment by the side of a valise, the other setion at its inner face and substantially along said perpendicular plane having bracket means located above said first bracket means for engagement with a valise to retain same within the suit case, said first bracket means extending substantially the distance between the planes of said second and third bracket means, a suit holder comprising a flexible body for suspension in the suit case and for lowering and/or lifting of its central portion vertically past said first bracket means, said flexible body having stiffening strips transversely disposed at each end thereof, means carried by the structure located in each of said sections adjacent the upper ends thereof for detachably suspending said suit holder in U-form with the major portions thereof materially spaced from both the side walls of said sections and from the valise occupying zone, suitsecuring means carried by the holder adjacent said strips,

the structure serving to prevent or minimize wrinkling of a contained suit.

4. A suit case and valise structure according to claim 3, wherein said means carried by the structure and located in each of said sections adjacent the upper ends thereof are hooks, elements detachably engageable with said hooks, and said elements and suit-securing means being fastened to said strips.

5. A suit case and valise structure according to claim 3 wherein said sections are hinged together and one of said sections is of greater Width than the other section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 741,004 Van Nostran Oct. 6, 1903 1,040,462 Thruman Oct. 8, 1912 1,228,732 Adams June 5, 1917 1,292,493 Logan Jan. 28, 1919 1,438,738 Witbeck Dec. 12, 1922 1,562,417 Schuck Nov. 17, 1925 2,362,807 Dresner Nov. 14, 1944 2,486,248 Berman Oct. 25, 1949 2,765,106 Platt et a1. Oct. 2, 1956 

